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Faizan
According to Bryn Mawr Classical Review, backgammon's origins are still largely unknown. It has been claimed by several Eastern cultures. Backgammon-like games can be found in the histories of India and China before spreading to Europe. A game of strategy, backgammon is designed for two players who wish to pit their wits against each other. Players must move their pieces around the entire board until they are in the correct quadrant, then clear off the pieces by rolling the correct numbers on dice.
Board Setup
A backgammon board has 24 triangles on it. These are referred to as points. Each player has a home board and an outer board. The home and outer boards are separated by the ridge between them. Either side of the ridge can be the home or outer board, depending on the preference of the players. Both players, however, must have their home and outer board on the same side so the home board of player one is directly connected to the home board for player two.
Each point is numbered starting from the home board. The farthest point on the outer board being is 24. Point 24 for 1 player is point 1 for the other player. To set up the board, each player sets five pieces on point 6, 3 pieces on point 8, 5 pieces on point 13 and 2 pieces on point 24. Both players should have their own set of dice and a cup to shake the dice in.
Moving the Pieces
Both players throw a die. Whoever rolls the highest goes first and must move both the number rolled and the number the opponent rolled. In subsequent turns, a player will roll both dice and move the number rolled.
You can only move one or two pieces per turn. You can roll one piece the number on your first die and one piece the number on your second die. You can also move one piece the combined number on the dice, but only if at least one middle point -- either the number on the first die or the number on the second -- is open.
Pieces can only be moved to a space that isn't occupied by two or more of their opponent's pieces.
Rolling doubles allows you up to four moves, because it doubles your roll.
If possible, you must use all of your available moves. If you can only use one, then you must perform that one. If one move will prevent you from completing the other, you have to use your higher number to move.
If your opponent moves a piece onto a point with one of your pieces, you must set your piece on the bar in the middle of the board. From then on, your primary aim is to use your roll to move that piece onto your opponent's home board so you can start working it around to your home board. If you can't move your piece of the bar, then you lose your turn until you can.
Always move your pieces toward your home board, working in a horseshoe shape around the backgammon board.
Bearing Off
The second objective of backgammon is to move all your pieces -- once they've arrived at your home board -- off the board. This is called "bearing off." You cannot begin bearing off until all of your pieces are in your home board. Each roll of your dice corresponds to 2 points. If there is a checker on one of the points you rolled, you can remove it from the board.
If there is no checker on the point, you have to legally move a checker from a higher number. If there are no pieces on higher-numbered points, you have to remove a piece from the highest-numbered point with a game piece on it.
The first player to bear off all the game pieces from the board wins.
Board Setup
A backgammon board has 24 triangles on it. These are referred to as points. Each player has a home board and an outer board. The home and outer boards are separated by the ridge between them. Either side of the ridge can be the home or outer board, depending on the preference of the players. Both players, however, must have their home and outer board on the same side so the home board of player one is directly connected to the home board for player two.
Each point is numbered starting from the home board. The farthest point on the outer board being is 24. Point 24 for 1 player is point 1 for the other player. To set up the board, each player sets five pieces on point 6, 3 pieces on point 8, 5 pieces on point 13 and 2 pieces on point 24. Both players should have their own set of dice and a cup to shake the dice in.
Moving the Pieces
Both players throw a die. Whoever rolls the highest goes first and must move both the number rolled and the number the opponent rolled. In subsequent turns, a player will roll both dice and move the number rolled.
You can only move one or two pieces per turn. You can roll one piece the number on your first die and one piece the number on your second die. You can also move one piece the combined number on the dice, but only if at least one middle point -- either the number on the first die or the number on the second -- is open.
Pieces can only be moved to a space that isn't occupied by two or more of their opponent's pieces.
Rolling doubles allows you up to four moves, because it doubles your roll.
If possible, you must use all of your available moves. If you can only use one, then you must perform that one. If one move will prevent you from completing the other, you have to use your higher number to move.
If your opponent moves a piece onto a point with one of your pieces, you must set your piece on the bar in the middle of the board. From then on, your primary aim is to use your roll to move that piece onto your opponent's home board so you can start working it around to your home board. If you can't move your piece of the bar, then you lose your turn until you can.
Always move your pieces toward your home board, working in a horseshoe shape around the backgammon board.
Bearing Off
The second objective of backgammon is to move all your pieces -- once they've arrived at your home board -- off the board. This is called "bearing off." You cannot begin bearing off until all of your pieces are in your home board. Each roll of your dice corresponds to 2 points. If there is a checker on one of the points you rolled, you can remove it from the board.
If there is no checker on the point, you have to legally move a checker from a higher number. If there are no pieces on higher-numbered points, you have to remove a piece from the highest-numbered point with a game piece on it.
The first player to bear off all the game pieces from the board wins.
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